Against the Giants

Malowan came up behind her. He sighed. “Agya, I know, but notall are used to violence. Merely being taken prisoner would be enough to terrify a gentle fellow. But I had to waken him. Maera will not listen to any word against Florimund and besides, I have no proof against him. He is not evil, that I can tell.”

Agya merely cast up her eyes.

“Let us be done with this,” Vlandar urged. “Mal, Florimund isyour watch-and Maera as well.”

The paladin nodded.

“We’re ready to go, then?” Vlandar added. “I know most of usneeded a short rest here, but we have little time to spare. We don’t know whenthe guard change occurs, but we do know what the incoming guards will find- atrail of bodies.”

“I agree,” Malowan said. “And we have yet to find the Jarl’sprivate chambers.”

“Or his treasuries, though I would like it better if we foundanother scroll like the last one you and Agya found.” Vlandar beckoned the restof his company close. “All right, people,” he began, “we’ve crossed much of theRift, but there is still danger. Nemis has neutralized the two guards behind the dais, but there may be others, or servants wandering the halls. None of us know what we will find once we get to the Jarl’s chambers, but we must be utterlyquiet. You four”-he looked at the rescued prisoners-“stay in our midst. We’vegiven you what weapons we can, and if things come to a fight, we’ll welcome yourhelp. But we have a goal that lies beyond this place, and our best way to get there-and to get you free of the Rift-is to use stealth. We are spies, not anarmy.”

“We’re no army, either,” Jebis said quietly. “And we’ll dowhat you ask, so long’s we’ve a chance to escape alive.” He glanced at hiscompanions. Two of the hunters nodded cautiously. The third stared at the dagger he now held, his lips moving soundlessly. He looked a bit touched to Lhors, who couldn’t blame the man.

“Good,” Vlandar said. “Watch our two magic-users”-heindicated Malowan and Nemis-“They are testing our path and our backtrail forenemy, traps, pitfalls and other dangers. If either signs for you to stop or to be still, do so.”

“We shall,” the hunter said. “Not many orders I won’t followto get out of here.”

“Sensible,” Malowan murmured. “Now, if you must speak for anyreason, get my attention or Nemis’ or Vlandar’s and do this”-he held up a hand,first finger extended. “If it is safe to talk, the response is this”-he held upan open hand, all fingers pressed together-“and if not, this”-he drew a slashinghand across his throat.

“Simple enough,” Jebis said. He rapidly ran through all threesigns, tersely naming each.

Vlandar nodded. “Good. Now, you can make out the throne downthere? There are two guards behind it, but Nemis has bespelled them. All the same, be swift and quiet.”

They crossed the great cave and passed the dais without challenge. Vlandar gestured urgently, and they covered the distance eastward quickly, entered a narrowing passage blocked at its inner end with one of the slabs of rock used as doors. Nemis spelled it to one side while Malowan tested the passages beyond for immediate danger. The paladin shook his head, then he and Nemis led the way in, leaving Khlened, Vlandar, and Bleryn to shift the stone back into place.

The chamber beyond was cool but not unbearably so after the drafty great cave. This room might have been a private audience hall for the Jarl’s important guests. Tables and chairs dotted the area, and on one Lhorscould see scrolls. A few weapons hung from the wall. Pelts covered the floor and the icy stone walls. Another passage went north into darkness, and the east end of this long, skinny room was blocked by hides from ceiling to floor.

Vlandar set Maera to watch north and west, Rowan to keep an eye on the east curtains, then let Malowan perform a reveal danger spell on the chamber itself while Nemis did something similar over near the east wall. Everyone else waited close to the doorway they’d just come through until the twomagicians nodded and gestured that the chamber was free of traps.

Vlandar divided the party and set them to various tasks, leaving the rangers where they were and getting Khlened, Bleryn, and Gerikh to search the chamber for anything useful.

Agya and Lhors were left with Florimund.

The thief’s nose wrinkled, and she touched Lhors’ hand. Animal smell. She pointed toward the leather-draped east wall. The youth shrugged, but when Rowan glanced his way, he caught her attention and signed. Rowan nodded, slacked her bowstring long enough to sign, Yes. Beasts in there, then turned back to keep watch.

Lhors glanced at his companions. Agya swallowed hard as she interpreted the rangers sign, then turned as Florimund began to sway, his eyes half closed. Thief and villager caught the half-elf before he could fall over. The pile of ivory tusks he would have landed on would have made a hellish clatter. Lhors and Agya eased the fellow down, exchanging exasperated looks over him. Nemis, who must have been watching the half-elf, padded quickly across the chamber and clamped a hand over Florimund’s mouth as he and hauled the half-elfup and off his feet. Florimund struggled feebly, but Nemis was already at Maera’s side, where he set the fellow down with some remark to the ranger thatLhors couldn’t hear. She scowled at the mage but patted her kinsman’s hand andlet him crouch next to her.

Everyone froze as a deep giant voice asked a question from the next room. A resonant female voice replied, and something that sounded like a large dog whined eagerly. Vlandar gestured for Nemis to join Rowan, then drew the others just into the hallway leading up to the gentry’s quarters. “There isnothing for us in here. There is at least one chamber behind those hides where Rowan keeps watch, and beyond it, two giants and two wolves.”

Jebis made the safe to talk sign, even though Vlandar had been speaking, if very quietly.

Malowan held up a hand for yes and nodded. “Beg pardon, sir,but that voice we just heard? That was their leader, I’m sure of it.”

“I believe you may be right,” Malowan said. “By the location,if nothing else, and I sense power in there. If so, the other may be his lady, and the wolves both pets and guards. Back north is a vast cavern, with many giants. Families, I think. If the Jarl is here, they may be his nobles.”

“It seems likely,” Vlandar said. “We’ve a pocket of silencehere, thanks to Nemis’ spell. I’d like one of his sleep spells to deal withwhat’s in there. I don’t want to start a fight here. Those nobles or whateverthey are would not hear, thanks to Nemis, but others might be drawn from passages or guard points eastward.” Vlandar considered this briefly. He thenwaved to catch Nemis’ eye and broadly pantomimed sleep.

The mage smiled grimly, nodded, and turned away. A few moments later, he turned back to nod once more.

Vlandar led them back into the main room. Nemis, who had beenwalking with Rowan, approached the warrior. The ranger looked very unhappy about something, Lhors thought.

As Rowan marched over to begin speaking in urgent tones with the paladin, Nemis stepped close to Vlandar and said, “Listen, please. We darenot leave the Jarl and his lady alive.”

Vlandar gave him a puzzled look.

“They sleep now. Execute them while they sleep-call itjustice for the deaths they’ve caused. They will feel no pain. Leave those twoalive, and they’ll spill more innocent blood.”

Vlandar nodded sharply. “I agree. Still, to kill anyoneasleep like that…”

“You need have no part,” Nemis urged. “Mal certainly must notbe part of it or even know what we do until it’s done. Rowan will distract himonce we’re in there, but-”

“Too late,” Malowan said. He’d come up unnoticed. Behind him,Rowan cast Nemis a tired glance and shrugged. “Nemis, you cannot do this, notwhile I am here, and I will not leave.”

“I’ll send you to sleep then!” The mage hissed inannoyance.

The paladin shook his head. “No. If we were attacked, youwould need me.” Malowan looked at Vlandar. “Tell me you have not countenancedthis.”

“Not here and now,” Vlandar broke in grimly. “Get inside thatchamber, and we’ll talk.”

Malowan set his jaw, beckoned his ward close, and went.

“Sorry,” Rowan muttered as she passed Nemis. “I did all Icould, but he became suspicious.”

“A plague on the pure-hearted,” Nemis growled and followedher up the two steps and around the leather drape. Vlandar waited until everyone else was out of sight, then gestured for Lhors to go ahead of him.

It was nearly warm inside the Jarl’s private chamber-and thatwas what it must be, Lhors decided. The furnishings were too fine for any but the ruler and his lady. He glanced around. The chamber was large but so cluttered that Lhors wondered if frost giant nobles even knew the concept of cleaning maids.